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Three years after Newtown: lawmakers demand action against gun violence Three years after Newtown: lawmakers demand action against gun violence
(34 minutes later)
Political leaders are calling for concerted action to combat gun violence in the US on the third anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six educators were killed.Political leaders are calling for concerted action to combat gun violence in the US on the third anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six educators were killed.
Connecticut’s senators reasserted their commitment to combatting gun violence on Monday as the White House devises a gun control plan that could bypass Congress, where similar efforts have failed.Connecticut’s senators reasserted their commitment to combatting gun violence on Monday as the White House devises a gun control plan that could bypass Congress, where similar efforts have failed.
Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, remembered the “soul-crushing December morning” in a statement on Monday, while reaffirming his commitment to make his country “safer”.Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, remembered the “soul-crushing December morning” in a statement on Monday, while reaffirming his commitment to make his country “safer”.
“We pledge to honor the memory of that awful day, three years ago, by never, ever giving up in our quest to make our country a safer, kinder place – no matter the obstacles, the setbacks, or the roadblocks we find along the way,” Murphy said.“We pledge to honor the memory of that awful day, three years ago, by never, ever giving up in our quest to make our country a safer, kinder place – no matter the obstacles, the setbacks, or the roadblocks we find along the way,” Murphy said.
Former US representative Gabby Giffords, who was severely injured in a 2011 mass shooting, commemorated the Newtown anniversary by saying it was “just a matter of time until Congress acts”.Former US representative Gabby Giffords, who was severely injured in a 2011 mass shooting, commemorated the Newtown anniversary by saying it was “just a matter of time until Congress acts”.
“We would have never guessed that ever that since that day, almost one million people would transform our message of responsible gun ownership and commonsense solutions into a national movement,” Giffords and her husband, Nasa astronaut Mark Kelly, wrote to supporters.“We would have never guessed that ever that since that day, almost one million people would transform our message of responsible gun ownership and commonsense solutions into a national movement,” Giffords and her husband, Nasa astronaut Mark Kelly, wrote to supporters.
Related: Could more gun control have stopped 2015's deadliest mass shootings?Related: Could more gun control have stopped 2015's deadliest mass shootings?
Giffords and Kelly founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a national organization to rival the powerful pro-gun lobby, days after the Newtown shooting.Giffords and Kelly founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a national organization to rival the powerful pro-gun lobby, days after the Newtown shooting.
If any shooting could galvanize the electorate and legislature to strengthen US gun laws, it was assumed that Newtown would be it. But the slew of initiatives Barack Obama unveiled in the wake of the shooting were defeated.If any shooting could galvanize the electorate and legislature to strengthen US gun laws, it was assumed that Newtown would be it. But the slew of initiatives Barack Obama unveiled in the wake of the shooting were defeated.
“We remember the little ones, and marvel at what they were, and what they could have become,” Murphy said. “We recall with awe those brave educators, who tried to protect them, and perished in the effort.“We remember the little ones, and marvel at what they were, and what they could have become,” Murphy said. “We recall with awe those brave educators, who tried to protect them, and perished in the effort.
“And we never stop searching for answers. Why did it happen? Did it have to happen? What can we do, now, to make sure it never happens again?”“And we never stop searching for answers. Why did it happen? Did it have to happen? What can we do, now, to make sure it never happens again?”
Had Obama been successful, the 20 most deadly mass shootings of 2015 would have been less likely to have occurred, according to a Guardian analysis.Had Obama been successful, the 20 most deadly mass shootings of 2015 would have been less likely to have occurred, according to a Guardian analysis.
In nine of those shootings, the gunmen legally obtained their weapons. And there is no evidence to show that the weapons used in the remaining 11 cases were procured illegally.In nine of those shootings, the gunmen legally obtained their weapons. And there is no evidence to show that the weapons used in the remaining 11 cases were procured illegally.
White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said last week that Obama asked his advisers to create a proposal that would strengthen background checks on gun buyers without the approval of Congress.White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said last week that Obama asked his advisers to create a proposal that would strengthen background checks on gun buyers without the approval of Congress.
“The president has directed his team in short order to finalise a set of recommendations on what more the administration can do on its own to save lives from gun violence, and those recommendations will include making sure we do everything we can to keep guns out of the wrong hands, including those expanded background checks,” Jarrett said at a gun violence vigil in Washington DC.“The president has directed his team in short order to finalise a set of recommendations on what more the administration can do on its own to save lives from gun violence, and those recommendations will include making sure we do everything we can to keep guns out of the wrong hands, including those expanded background checks,” Jarrett said at a gun violence vigil in Washington DC.
Members of the Newtown Action Alliance gun control campaign group visited Washington DC last week to meet with lawmakers ahead of the vigil.
“We sent a strong message to Congress,” sad Po Murray, chairman of the alliance. “We castigated them for failing to keep us safe.”
He said the alliance “begged” lawmakers to strengthen background check laws and to end the ban on gun violence research.
“While congressional inaction is discouraging, it is encouraging that the public sentiment is on our side and there have been many victories,” Murray said.
Connecticut governor Dan Malloy said last week that he would sign a law that bans people who are on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns in the state. A similar measure failed to pass in the senate the day after the shooting in San Bernardino, which killed 14 people.Connecticut governor Dan Malloy said last week that he would sign a law that bans people who are on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns in the state. A similar measure failed to pass in the senate the day after the shooting in San Bernardino, which killed 14 people.
Connecticut’s other senator, Richard Blumenthal, also a Democrat, spoke about the grief and bravery felt by survivors of Newtown and other acts of gun violence in a statement.Connecticut’s other senator, Richard Blumenthal, also a Democrat, spoke about the grief and bravery felt by survivors of Newtown and other acts of gun violence in a statement.
“We will never forget the loved ones lost, and I will never abandon this cause,” said Blumenthal. “We must honor with action today and every day.”“We will never forget the loved ones lost, and I will never abandon this cause,” said Blumenthal. “We must honor with action today and every day.”